The first Champion race of the Cheltenham Festival is the Unibet Champion Hurdle.
The Champion Hurdle kicks off at 4.00 pm on Tuesday, 9th March. This race is run over the extended two miles on the old course.
This is the third Grade 1 of the festival, but it's the very first Champion race. Horses over the age of four, which is every horse in jumps racing, can participate, but it's mainly second-season and older horses who turn up. The winner of this prestigious race gets the prize of £262,078.
Cheltenham 2026: Unibet Champion Hurdle history
In terms of the best hurdle races to win, this is the pinnacle of hurdle races. If you are a trainer, jockey or owner and have a two-mile specialist, this is the race you want to win. Not only is that because of the large amount of money on offer, but also because of the history attached to the race.
The first running of the Champion Hurdle was back in 1927. Since then, we've seen five horses equal the record of most wins (three wins), which includes some of the biggest names in jumps racing. The likes of Hatton's Grace, who was well before the times of the majority of punters, won this between 1949 and 1951. Persian War is another horse during the late 60s who won it three times, and was a brilliant horse back in the day. A horse who we all know is Istabraq, arguably the greatest hurdler of all time, definitely in most of our lifetimes, won this in 1998, 1999 and 2000.
The leading trainer for this race is Nicky Henderson, which isn't a great shock. Nicky has had some brilliant hurdlers in his career, most recently having Constitution Hill, who won this race in 2023.
We could have a returning winner of this race, as Golden Ace lines up, after causing a shock at odds of 25/1 to win it last year. It was a race full of incidents, with Constitution Hill and State Man falling. She is a horse who always goes under the radar, back against her if you're brave enough.
A key trend that needs to be mentioned is that in this century, only one beaten favourite from last time out has gone on to win the Champion Hurdle. Lossiemouth, the current market favourite, lost last time when being the favourite.
Cheltenham 2026: Unibet Champion Hurdle top picks
The big news coming into Day 1 is Lossiemouth making an appearance for the Champion Hurdle. Rich Ricci (owner of Lossiemouth) has always been an advocate of sending his horses, generally the mares, to the path of least resistance. After many of the big hitters being absent from this year's renewal, they've decided to go for the big prize, and she is the current market favourite for the race. She is a very talented mare, who probably deserves to be the favourite for this weak race. The only doubt is that she is a strong stayer, and if they don't go a good gallop, will she have the gears?
Dan Skelton will be excited with his chance, The New Lion. Since acquiring him, he has always had a reputation for being a very good horse. JP McManus bought him for big money before last year's Cheltenham festival, and he went on to win the Turners Novices' over 2m 5f. This year, he has been lightly raced. He fell in the Fighting Fifth, but then put it right by winning the Unibet Hurdle in January, in workmanlike fashion.
A horse I've always been a big fan of is Brighterdaysahead. She sits in third place in the market, at around 9/2. She is another mare taking her chance when there would've been an easier opportunity elsewhere. She ran in this race last year, but it was mightily disappointing. She arrives in great form, beating Lossiemouth at the DRF last time out. I don't think you can write her off, but I don't think Cheltenham is her favourite track, and I get Apple's Jade vibes.
Cheltenham 2026: Unibet Champion Hurdle outsiders
It's crazy to think last year's winner, Golden Ace, is at an each-way price of 9/1. She never runs a bad race, and despite causing a shock to win this race last year, she has continued to run well this year.
After winning the Champion Hurdle, she finished second at the Punchestown festival, beaten by State Man. Her reappearance run this season was poor, but she scoped dirty that day. The Fighting Fifth was a second Grade 1 win in her career, and then she finished second to Sir Gino, who did thump her that day. Would it be a surprise if she won? I don't think so, but I think there are more talented horses in the lineup. I think she could finish in the places, and if others underperform, she is definitely an each-way angle.
Poniros caused the biggest shock of last year's festival, defeating Lulamba in the Triumph Hurdle at odds of 100/1. What made that performance very impressive was that he won that race on his hurdling debut, which is unheard of. Since then, he ran on the flat at Royal Ascot, finishing towards the back when backed into 3/1. Last time out, after another big layoff, he returned at the DRF to finish third behind Brighterdaysahead and Lossiemouth. It was a decent return, and will find today's ground better for him. Each way player.
Cheltenham 2026: Unibet Champion Hurdle Going
At the time of writing, the current going description at Cheltenham is Good to soft, good in places. For some strange reason, the Clerk of the course is watering the track, which is a completely baffling decision and something I don't want to get into.
The weather forecast looks dry, with only a small amount of rain falling on Monday. The ground should remain the same for the Champion Hurdle, and that will definitely benefit some more than others. Lossiemouth is a versatile horse, and can run on any ground, but she did finish ahead of Brighterdaysahead on good to yielding ground at Christmas, but struggled against the same mare on heavy the time after.
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